Film-processing apparatus which employs liquid-carrying containers



E. H. LAND March 1954 FILM-PROCESSING APPARATUS WHICH EMPLOYS LIQUID-CARRYING CONTAINERS .2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 21, 1951 INVENTQR 6 A ORNEY March 9, I954 E. H. LAND FILM-PROCESSING APPARA WHICH TAINER EMPLOYS S 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 4

INVENTOR 524M M a imme.

Patented Mar. 9, 1954 FILMI IPROCES SING APPARATU S- WHICH "EM- PIJOY-S IJ'IQUID GARRYING? CONTAINERS- Edwin 12nd,, Cambridge; Mass, assignorr to. Polaroid Corporation, Cambridge, tMass.,,a.cor.- poration oil-Delaware Application F'ebruaryzl, 1951; Serial No. 2122167 13. Glaims: 1

This: invention: relates to: photography: and

morezparticul'arly to novel photographiczapparaa tus; sue-h as'-.a: came1'a wherein.aophotosensitive.

sheetmaterial maybe processed lhwbeingbrought into faee-to face relationship with :anothersheet? material and By havingithe liquidiofiaxcontaineri carriedby one of said sheets 1 released: between: said sheets. In. aprefrrediformiofftkie apparatus negatiVe and positive images '-are=conourrent= 1y: produced int the two sheets: and? thereuis also preferably: provided"- a dark= chamber: in: the" ap paratusinto which thesprocessed' sheets are fed; the" image-forming reactions beingcarriedout whilethe :sheets remain dn this'dark: chamber:

The -principal ohjeot of "the=present invention An exposure: openingisprovided'? inv the; front is toprovide improved means in such apparatus housing'and-a door-isincludedwinrthezreanhous+ to insure that the liquid oarryirrgz'container-"mill ing, the partition defining an exposure chaanber lee-openedto permit the releaseoftheprocessing: with, the: front" housing; and? definingv a: dark liquid-"contained therein; chamber with therrear housing;.the doors-serve Another object 'of the invention isato-provide mg to provide. access totheodark'rchambern The improved" opening n ope-rating indecamera aisodncludes-prooessing means; prefene pendently of-"theproeessihg means. ably comprising:apairofipressure-aapplyingmeme Still another: objectofftlieLinvention is to.pro hers positioned! between the, exposure: opening vid'e improved means for= presenting saidliquid and-the second rollrholdingmeansnandrarranged, earryinacontainers to-the action"offsaid opening to. release. the-processing=- liquid fIOmIti'IB': cone.- means prior to submitting said containersto the tainer and to ls-preadithis re1eased-1iquidlb'etween action of said processing means: the two isheetliker-materials :iIT; superposition bes- These and=- other objects of the invention will tween the-:pressure-applying:mernbers. in-part he obviousand willin part appearhere Thisjnvention is-iprimarily directed tmmeans' inafter. for opening (the: liquidf-carryingr containers" pres The invention accordingly comprises": the: ap paratory. to therreleasezrofr processingrliquiditherea paratus possessing theconstruetion, combination from by saidprocessingmeans: In a'apreferred' of elements and arrangements oi partsu which form offthe': invention, thee-opening meansccom are-shown and d'esorilo'ed in the' followingdetailed' prisessa rotatable member-1 arranged toi engagea disclosure; andthewscope of-i the application of longitudinal edge portion: of: the? container! to: which will beindicated in the elaimsa, op en: the: container beforez the: pressureeapplying' For aa more complete understanding of; the: membersiofrtheprocessingsrmeans appiy;pressure nature and objects of the invention; reference thereto: A's'illustrated', the: opening means comshoultl be-had: to-the=f01lowing1detailedidescripe prises? a .rotatab1e*-knifemember arranged-s for: tion' taken' inzconneetion withithezsaccompanying-i 40 movement 1 in engagement; with, as. longitudinal drawings whereim. edge portion of the container to seven'saidsedge Figure 1 ism-diagrammatic fragmentary "Vermeportionsfrom-xthefbody otthezcontainenthus per- Cal: SBOtiOHaIFViJEWF of: azpreferrectzmodificatiom of. mittingr the liquid: contained": therein to: be? rea the? invention; as emhodiedi in' a" handiheld leased..andzspreadionzthesuperposedzsheets'wherr camera;. pressure; is; applied: thereto; by said: processing Fig: 211s,- a: fragmentarm sectional; Vi6W taken: means; a1ong;the=1ine;2+-2rof:Eig: 1:: The-illustratediembodiments Offthfi present -ine Fig. 3 is a fragmentary. secticnanviewsimfla-n venti'on: are;illustratediherein: as; applied: tor a toiEigrolg butziilustratingz anothen'modification. of handeheldi camera. of? theetype: iHustratedZin-l the thegpresentiinvention; 50. United: States Patent? No 2,491,769; granted Fig; his aav'iew similar: toxFig; 3110x1175 illustrate December: 20; 199:9: oman' applioatiom filed imthei inea: aastilllfmithenmodification crimes-invention; namezof: Charles QiaRolandoz Thericamerazcome nd prisessaafrontz housing: l fleandiaa rearrl'iousingi:

Riga. 5i fragmentarwvievw: off? a: oontainerepivotallyx'secured'itmthezfitontzhousmeby a inge carryingzsheet-: He Thefront: housing: Ifl'z is;v providedi withia' (CL P-89).

' tween; these; two: housings;

In; a, preferred type; of: hand-heldacamera ism:- bodying; the: present? invention and: illustrated i in the-drawings; the-ocamera'comprises a.fr0riizzho'usiing, a, rear housing and: a partition extendingzbee The camerazisz-zprotvided. .with means for; holding :the: two; sheets: In" apreferred: form; thereis one: such.- means; ads jacent to one; end: of? a camera; for holding a; supply,- such as a rolllnof" thephot'osensitive :film; and means are :provided; 1 preferablyadj went: to. the other: end :of-the-camera; ,fonholdin'gqei supply; such as a se-condroll, or sheetlike material. Qne of these rolls of: sheet; material; preferably 'supe ports' a plurality of; liquid-carrying; containers;

usual bellows I8 surrounding an exposure opening I8. The front of the bellows I6 is provided with the usual shutter housing (not shown). The camera is also provided with a light-tight chamber (not shown) holding a supply of sheet 28 having thereon a plurality of spaced photosensitive areas arranged successively to be brought into position below the exposure opening I8. The camera is also provided with a chamber 22 in which is supported a roll 26 of image-carrying sheet 28 having liquid-carrying containers 38 secured thereto at spaced intervals. The imagecarrying sheet 28 passes from the roll 26 under a tension-applying member 32 having sides 34 which are arranged to engage opposite side edges of the sheet 28 and having the bottom of the member 32 between said sides 34 raised sufficiently to permit passage of the spaced liquidcarrying containers 38 thereunder without exerting any pressure thereon. The sheet 28 passes from the tension-applying member 32 past a suitable mechanism for opening the container 38 and between a pair of pressure rolls 36, 38 into a processing chamber. The photosensitive sheet 28 passes over the top of the roll 38 and is superposed on the sheet 28 between the rolls 36, 38. The roll 36 is rotatably supported in suitable bearings in the rear housing I2 and the roll 38 is 1'0- tatably supported in bearings formed in suitable members mounted in the front housing I 8, which second r011 is resiliently urged into pressure engagement with the other roll 36 by a spring-biased bar 4I. Thus, when the camera is to be loaded and the rear housing I2 is swung about the hinge I4, the rolls 36, 38 are separated to permit insertion of the leaders of sheets 28 and 28 therebetween.

The construction shown in Fig. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present invention for opening the liquid-carrying containers 38 carried by the image-carrying sheet 28. After the sheet 28 passes from below the tension-applying member 32, it passes upwardly over a suitable roll 48 mounted in suitable bearings in the sides of rear housing I2 and below a shaft 42 supported in suitable bearings in the front housing l8 and having thereon rollers 44 arranged to engage the opposite marginal edges of the sheet 28. The roll 48 and the cooperating rolls 44 are so positioned relatively to the member 32 L and the processingor pressure rolls 36, 38 that the sheet 28 is flexed and a container 38 fixed to the sheet 28 is caused to swing upwardly relatively to the sheet 28 and into engagement with a suitable stationary member, such as anvil 43,

fixed to the side walls of the front housing I8 and extending transversely of the front housing I8, as shown most clearly in Fig. 2. The member 43 is provided with a V-shaped groove 46 which cooperates with a rotary knife 48, as will later be described.

As is usual in cameras of the type described herein, the photosensitive sheet 28 preferably has a support or base, for example of paper, upon which is mounted the photosensitive silver halide emulsion which provides the areas or frames capable of being photoexposed in opening I6. With such an emulsion, the image-carrying sheet 28 preferably comprises baryta paper having the containers 38 secured thereto at predetermined spaced intervals. The processing liquid carried by the containers 38 preferably comprises a viscous alkaline aqueous solution of a developer, a silver halide solvent and a film-forming material. The container 38 is preferably formed of a paper backed metal foil coated at the inner surface thereof with a synthetic resin, such as polyvinyl butyral, which is inert to alkalies. The paperbacked metal foil is preferably folded on itself to form a relatively long container which is sealed at its side edge portions. After a suitable quantity of processing liquid is placed in the container 38, the edge opposite to the folded edge is sealed by the use of a suitable adhesive which is inert to alkalies.

When the rotary knife 48 is brought into engagement with the container 38, it is arranged to cut entirely through the two layers of the container material over the major portion of said container. Thus, the container 38 is effectively opened to permit release of the processing liquid contained therein and the entire container 38 passes as a unit between the processing rolls 36, 38 when the sheets 28, 28 are moved into the processing chamber.

The rotary knife 48 is rotatably mounted on a lever 58 pivoted at 52 to a sliding block 54 having an opening therein through which extends a supporting rod 56 secured at eachend to the side walls of the front housing I8. The lever 58 carries at its free end a roll 55 which is arranged, when the knife assembly is returned to initial position, to move the rotary knife 48 out of contact with the container 38. The block 54 is provided with a pair of oppositely disposed arms 68, 62. The arm 68 has secured thereto one end of a tension spring 64 which is connected at its other end to an arm 66 on the lever 58 and which acts to bias the knife 28 into cutting engagement with the container 38. The sliding block 54 and the parts connected thereto are normally spring-urged toward the left of the front housing I8, as viewed in Fig. 2, by a tension spring 68 connected at one end to the arm 62 on the sliding block 54 and at its other end to bracket I8 fixed to the left side of the front housing I8 as viewed in Fig. 2. When the cutting device is retractedby the spring 68, the roll 55 rides on the cam surface II formed at the left-hand end of the member 43 and moves the knife 48 out of engagement with the container 38 as it reaches the left-hand edge of the slot 46. The block 54 and the parts carried thereby are moved in the opposite direction against the tension of the spring 68 by a rod 12 secured at one end to the block 54 and extending parallel to the supporting rod 56 and through a suitable opening in the right-hand side of the front housing I8. The rod I2 is provided at its outer end with a knob 14, forming a convenient means for the operator to grasp when moving the knife assembly to the right to sever or open the container 38. The knife assembly is pulled to the right as viewed in Fig. 2 until the block 54 engages the righthand side of the front housing II). The parts are so arranged that the block 54 is brought against the side of the front housing I8 as the knife 48 reaches the right-hand end of the slot 46. Thus, the major portion of the sealed edge of the container 38 is severed but the sealed edge still is held against displacement as the container 38 passes between the flexing rolls 48, 44 and the processing rolls 36, 38.

The modification illustrated in Fig. 3 is similar to the one shown in Fig. 1. The knife assembly and the stationary cooperating cutter bar 43 are substantially the same but the entire assembly is moved closer to the processing rolls 36, 38 and the flexing rolls 48 and 44 are omitted. The container 38 is secured to the image or positive sheet other path for the other of said first and second sheets, said other path terminating in said region, associated portions of said first sheet and said second sheet being adapted to be advanced alon said one path and said other path, respectively, and through said region from one side thereof to the opposite side thereof, and means engageable with said peripheral section for unsealin said mouth, the last-mentioned means including an anvil having a surface located on said one side of and adjacent to said region and clear of and adjacent to said one path, means located on said one side of and adjacent to said region for pivoting said container about said one edge thereof until said peripheral section abuts against said surface and means cooperating with said surface of said anvil for severing a portion of said peripheral section from the remainder thereof in order to substantially unseal said month, said members when said associated portions are advanced through said region in superposed relation with said container therebetween causing said processing liquid to be ejected from said container and to be spread between said associated portions.

4. A photographic apparatus for processing a photosensitive first sheet in conjunction with a second sheet and in conjunction with at least a container aflixed at one of its edges to one of said sheets, said container having a processing liquid therewithin and a peripheral section at the edge thereof opposite said one edge, said peripheral section providing a sealed mon h, said apparatus comprising a pair of pressure-applying members defining a region therebetween, guide means providing one path for said one of said first and second sheets, said one path terminating in said region, guide means providing another path for the other of said first and second sheets, said other path terminating in said region, associated portions of said first sheet and said second sheet being adapted to be advanced along said one path and said other path, respectively, and through said region from one side thereof to the opposite side thereof, and means engageable with said peripheral section for unsealing said mouth, the last-mentioned means including an anvil having a surface located on said one side of and adjacent to said region, a pair of rollers located on said one side of and adjacent to said region, said pair of rollers being adapted to abut against opposite surfaces of said one sheet, said pair of rollers having axes lying substantially in a plane oblique to said opposite surfaces, said pair of rollers being adapted to pivot said container about said one edge thereof until said peripheral section abuts against said surface of said anvil and means cooperating with said anvil for severing a portion of said peripheral section from the remainder thereof in order to substantially unseal said mouth.

5. A photographic apparatus for processing a photosensitive first sheet in conjunction with a second sheet and in conjunction with at least a container, said container being afiixed at one of its edges to one of said sheets, having a processing liquid therewithin, having a normally curved surface adjacent to one of said sheets and having a peripheral section providing a sealed mouth at the edge of said container opposite said one edge, said apparatus comprising a pair of pressure-applying members defining a region therebetween, guide means providing one path for said one of said first and second sheets,

said one path terminating in said region, guide means providing another path for the other of said first and second sheets, said other path terminating in said region, associated portions of said first sheet and said second sheet being adapted to be advanced along said one path and said other path, respectively, and through said region from one side thereof to the opposite side thereof, and means engageable with said peripheral section for unsealing said mouth, the lastmentioned means including an anvil having a surface located on said one side of and adjacent to said region, said normally curved surface causing said peripheral section to project outwardly from said one sheet so as to be adapted to abut against said surface of said anvil and means cooperating with said anvil for severing a portion of said peripheral section from the remainder thereof, said members when said associated portions are advanced through said region in superposed relation with said container therebetween causing said processing liquid to be ejected from said container and to be spread between said associated portion.

6. A photographic apparatus for processing a photosensitive first sheet in conjunction with a second sheet and in conjunction with at least a container, said container being afiixed at one of its edges to one of said sheets, having a processing liquid therewithin, having a peripheral section providing a sealed mouth at the edge of said container opposite said one edge and having a tab extending from said edge of said container opposite said one edge, said apparatus comprising a pair of pressure-applying members defining a region therebetween, guide means providing one path for said one of said first and second sheets, said one path terminating in said region, guide means providing another path for the other of said first and second sheets, said other path terminating in said region, associated portions of said first sheet and said second sheet being adapted to be advanced along said one path and said other path, respectively, and through said region from one side thereof to the opposite side thereof, and means engageable with said peripheral section for unsealing said mouth, said last-mentioned means including an anvil having a surface located on said one side of and adjacent to said region, an arm positioned in said housing adjacent to said one path, said arm being adapted to engage said tab and thereby to pivot said container about said one edge thereof until said section abuts against said surface and cutting means cooperating with said surface for severing a portion of said section from the remainder thereof in order to substantially unseal said mouth, said members when said associated portions are advanced through said region in superposed relation with said container therebetween causing said processing liquid to be ejected from said container and to be spread between said associated portions.

7. A photograpr ic apparatus for processing a photosensitive first sheet in conjunction with a second sh-et and in conjunction with at least a container secured at one of its edges to one of said said container having a processing liquid therewithin and a peripheral section at the edge thereof opposite said one edge, said peripheral section providing a sealed mouth, said apparatus comprising one mounting means for carrying a supply of said one sheet, another mounting means for carrying a supply of said other sheet, a pair of pressure-applying members defining a inrst:regionwherebetween,rguidermeans.iproviding rone path extending :from :said one mounting means to =said first-r'egion, guid'eirmeans iprioviding another path extendin'g from said other mount- Jn'g means tosaid 'first regiomassociated portions to: fisai'd one -'sheet zand :said :other .sheet being :adapted to be =advanced1alongrsaidzone patheand -second path, -re'spectively, andlthrou'gh said first -regioniiroin one side thereof toitheiopposite Esid'e there'of, and :means engageable with isaid :peripheral ise'ctionor aunsealing said rm'outh, the lasfimentioned meansincluding: an anvilfhaving aisurface,=meansfor pivotingfisaideontainer about said one edge until: said peripheral isectioniabuts agalnstsaidisurfaceiandimeans cooperating with saidianvilsin a second: region Ifor iseverin'g a-rporttion nf said peripheral rsectionlfromithe cremainrder thereof, said secondsregion lbeing ilocated on said onei'side ofiand adjacent to :said firstiregi'on and clear of and adjacent to said one pathgsaid 'imenibers wheniassociatedfportioms are advanced through Esaid first I region zin superposed rrelation with said container therebetween being adapted toieause said processing liquid to be ejected from said container and to be spread between said associdterhportions.

8. A photographic apparatus forzprocessing a photosensitive first sheet in conjunction witha secon'd 'sheet and in conjunction with at'lea'st'a -container secured at one of "its edges to "one fof said sheetsfsai'd container having a processing liquid therewithin and a peripheral section at the edge thereof opposite said one edge, said peripheral section providing a sealed mouth, said apparatus comprising one mounting means for carrying a supply of said one sheet, another mounting means for carrying a supply of said other sheet, a pair of pressure-applying members defining a first region therebetween, guide means providing one path extending from said one mounting means to said first region, guide means providing another path extending from said other mounting means to said first region, associated portions of said one sheet and said other sheet being adapted to be advanced along said one path and said other path, respectively, and through said first region from one side thereof to the opposite side thereof, and means engageable with said peripheral section for unsealing said mouth, the last-mentioned means including an anvil having a surface, means for pivoting said container about one edge until said peripheral section abuts against said surface and a cutter cooperating with said anvil in a second region, said cutter being mounted for transverse movement with respect to said paths for severing a portion of said peripheral section from the remainder thereof, said second region being located on said one side of and adjacent to said first region and clear of and adjacent to said one path, said members when said associated portions are advanced through said first region in superposed relation with said container therebetween being adapted to cause said processing liquid to be ejected from said container and to be spread between said associated portions.

9. A photographic apparatus for processing a photosensitive first sheet in conjunction with a second sheet and in conjunction with at least a container secured at one of its edges to one of said sheets, said container having a processing liquid therewithin and a peripheral section at the edge thereof opposite said one edge, said peripheral section providing a sealed mouth, said apparatus comprising one mounting means for carrying 5a ssupply of said one :sheet, another :mounting 2111621118 :for :carrying :a zsupply pr. said rotherzsheet, aupair oftpressureeapplying:members dei'finingza'ifirstiregiontherebetween, guide means providing one apath :e itending rfrom .i-said one -m'ounting meansto: saidifirst region, guidermeans ziprovidingianotheripath extending: from-said other 'mounting :means (to 2 said :first region, zassociated rpo'rtio'ns io'f said one :sheet sand said tether ssheet 'beingzadaptedzto be advanced:alongsziidonerpath Eand isaid ioth'er path, :respectively, sand through 'E'S'l'i'd rfirst :region from one side -thereofrto the Iopposite:sideSth eredfmnduneansengageablewith saidiperipheral sectionzii'or unsealing' sai'dirmoiith, the-last ementionedlmeans including an; anvilzhaving a surface, :means'formivotingrsaid container aho1itesairltone:edge1 thereof .untilrsaid: peripheral section rabuts against said :surface and iarrotary o'cutter ceoperatingcmvith isaidisurface ofrsaidtsanvil fin rssecond :region to sever :a portion zperipheral :seeti'on :from (the 'rremain'cier thereof, fsaidsseeondireg ion beingdocatedsion saidcton'erside of "sand: adjacentito ESEtld flISl} v:region and clearsof and adjacent 1130 :said :one path, I said Lmembers when said Eassociated .zportions :are :advanced fthnough isai'dz-firsti region in superposed :relation -withrrsaidzrcont'ainer therebetween: being radapted toicausezsaid; pcocessingsliquidi to'rberej-ectedifrom fisaid r'container and to 'besspread betweensssaid .associatediportions.

znzphotographiceapparatusiforcpro'cessingaa photographic sheet in conjunction with at least a container affixed at one edge to said sheet, said container having a processing liquid therewithin and a peripheral section at the edge thereof opposite said one edge, said peripheral section providing a sealed mouth, said apparatus comprising pressure-applying members for exerting opposed compressional forces in a first region, guide means providing a path for said photographic sheet, said path terminating in said first region, a portion of said sheet being adapted to be advanced along said path and through said first region from one side thereof to the opposite side thereof, and means engageable with said section for unsealing said mouth, the last-mentioned means including an anvil having a surface, means for pivoting said container about said one edge until said peripheral section abuts against said surface and means cooperating with said anvil in a second region for severing a portion of said peripheral section from the remainder thereof, said second region being located on said one side of and adjacent to said first region and clear of and adjacent to said path, said pressure-applying members when said portion is advanced through said first region being adapted to cause said processing liquid to be ejected from said container and to be spread upon said portion.

11. A photographic apparatus for processing a photosensitive sheet in conjunction with at least a container affixed at one edge to said sheet, said container having a processing liquid therewithin and a peripheral section at the edge thereof opposite said one edge, said peripheral section providing a sealed mouth, said apparatus comprising pressure-applying means for exerting opposed compressional forces in a first region, guide means providing a path for said photographic sheet, said path terminating in said first region, a portion of said sheet being adapted to be advanced along said path and through said first region from one side thereof to the opposite side thereof, and means engageable with said section for unsealing said mouth, the last-mentioned means including an anvil having a surface, means second region for severing a portion of said peripheral section from the remainder thereof, said second region being located on said one side of and adjacent to said first region and clear of and adjacent to said path, said pressure-applying members when said portion is advanced through said first region being adapted to cause said processing liquid to be ejected from said container and to be spread upon said portion.

12. A photographic apparatus for processing a photosensitive first sheet in conjunction with a second sheet and in conjunction with at least a container afiixed to one of said first and second sheets, said container having a processing liquid therewithin and a section providing a sealed mouth, said apparatus comprising a pair of pressure-applying members for applying opposed compressional forces in the region therebetween, guide means providing one path for said one of said first and second sheets, said one path terminating in said region, guide means providing another path for the other of said first and second sheets, said other path terminating in said region,

associated portions of said one sheet and said other sheet being adapted to be advanced along said one path and said other path, respectively, and through said region from one side thereof to the opposite side thereof, and means engageable with said container for unsealing said mouth, said last-mentioned means being located on said one side of said region and adjacent to said one path, said last-mentioned means providing a 51111 face against which said container is adapted to References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Beidler May 10, 1921 Pejois June 21, 1949 Number A tun A 

